GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. NO BELLS THIS MORNING SO I HAD A GOOD SLEEP. CRAPPY HIGH HEAT IS ON IT'S WAY...OH YEAH....THIS IS SUMMER!
BEEN SO COOL OUTSIDE THAT I FORGOT
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING TO SAY. JUST A VERY MEL-LOW DAY!
HAPPY SUNDAY

HAPPY~ SO NICE TO HAVE MOM AGAIN. HAVE A GREAT VISIT. YOU'LL BE CLEANING BEHIND THE LOO AGAIN??? BETTER YOU THAN ME!! ARE YOU HAVING A GREAT BIG FORTH OF JULY BANG?? I'M ON MY WAY. IF I LEAVE NOW I SHOULD BE THERE IN TIME FOR THE POOLSIDE DRINKS

SHAD~ SEEMS LIKE YOU LEFT CARLA AND WE GOT ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM!! ARE YOU GOING ANYWHERE TODAY? CAUSE ANOTHER ONE IS ON ITS WAY HOPE THE REST OF THE TRIP WILL BE GOOD WEATHER AND LOTS OF FUN. I GOT SICK JUST READING ABOUT THE GLASS FLOOR!!!!!! STAY SAFE!!

CARLA~ THE CATS CRACKED ME UP. MINE DID THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEN TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED AT US LIKE IT WAS OUR FAULT FOR GETTING IN THE WAY!!!
ENJOY YOUR STAY ALSO. NICE ROOM!!
IF THE GUY HAD BEEN ON THE BEACH WITH A WEE SPEEDO, I WOUILD HAVE DROWNED WITH MY MOUTH WIDE OPEN IN THE WATER


TO ALL OUR CHICKLETTES!! BE WELL MY FRIENDS!! TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELVES.

Hi there ladies - everyone good today?

Glad you got a little peace and quiet Mel. They are talking about a hot, dry summer up north, cooler and wetter just a bit down south of me and all the way to the coast. The heat and humidity are creeping in here too. I feel bad for DH working so hard outside yesterday and today. He probably lost at least 10 pounds just sweating. I did go and help him yesterday but not nearly as much as he did. Stay inside and keep cool Mel. Watch some movies.

Carla - sure we'll give you a free pass for taking care of Shad. You get extra points for giving her a good workout. I just pointed her upstairs to the exercise room and said - help yourself and she DID. Your room now sounds nice. Hope you enjoy it and your latest assignment.

Shad - I checked out your train tour. I hope it's every bit as lovely as it looks. I plan on showing it to DH - would be something that we'd like to do - particularly in those upper level open type car seats. But... can you get a good picture or two in a moving train? Anyway - enjoy it for all of us.

I did not get into the pool yesterday. I looked out on the patio and DH was trimming like a mad man. The front looks so nice - he cut and ripped and shaped and now the front landscaping looks like the ornamental bushes it should be (last owners let everything grow out way too much). He had also trimmed the holly bushes in the back and there were clippings all over. I thought it would be nice if I helped him (I can devote one day on the weekend for outside work and the other on my "chores".) So I spent the afternoon digging under the holly bushes (scratch, scratch) pulling out all the old dead leaves and then sweeping the patio (which as Shad knows is no simple feat). I was about to go stick my feet in the pool when DH came down from his shower and said if I went with him to get a new lawnmower that he'd buy me a salad for dinner and an ice cream cone. The mention of salad made me think of my favorite Sunshine Chicken Salad - scoop of chicken salad with grapes and almonds accompanied with a side of cool chopped melons, strawberries and pineapple. That was enough temptation for me.

So we bought a new self propelled lawnmower. Poor DH - we had a rider mower but the ones they make now are all giant things - way bigger than we need. He decided to go with the push mower. Will have to start at 7am in the heat down here. Actually I should be the one mowing

Yes Mel, the Mongolian hoarde is descending here for 4th of July week. 7 people - any more show up they will have to sleep outside. Really, they will. I can set you up with a nice blow up bed by the pool and I do have a rather large Mombasa mosquito net to go with it. (I'm still pressing DH to buy me a nice Hammock and even I'd sleep outside ) It's not going to be much of a vacation for me but... I only get to see my family 2 or 3 times a year so I don't mind at all. I'm really excited that my mom is coming down on Wednesday. I cherish every minute I have left with her - even if she does try and wash my red sweater in with a load of black laundry - NO MOM - PLEASEEEEEE don't do that

Anyway - Mom's coming in earlier and before I know it they will all be here.

I have already started the laundry and prepped the upstairs for DH to shampoo the rugs tomorrow. (I would have done it but he said he can do it better). Next I will make out a few cards that I have to send out to people (birthdays, get well and sympathy). Then it's my least favorite part of the weekend - menu planning and grocery shopping It's back to WW with a vigor - been slacking the last 3 weeks and it shows. I feel lousy too. Big difference when you are eating properly.

With that, I bid you adieu or however you spell it. Enjoy your Sunday. Hellos to the rest of the chicks.

Oh and since I'm going to be kind of busy around the end of the month and into the beginning of July - I'd be most grateful for suggestions as to what we can do with the July thread. Put your thinking caps on

HOW ABOUT JULY IN JUMANJI WITH ROBIN WILLIAMS

HAPPY~ I AM WATCHING HOUSEBOAT WITH CARY GRANT AND SOPHIA LOREN! NEXT IS LIFE WITH EDDIE'S FATHER WITH GLENN FORD. GREAT DAY ON TURNER CLASSICE TV.
THE VISIT SOUNDS SO NICE. HOPE IT ALL GOES NICE AND SMOOTHLY. POOR DH WITH THE MOWER!! I'LL COME DOWN AND DRAG IT AROUND THE YARD FOR HIM./ MUCH EASIER!! I'VE GOT THE POwER BET I'D MAKE A GOOD "POWER" MOWER! ENJOY THE DAY!!

I CAME BACK BECAUSE OF LINUS AND HER BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW. WE SEEM TO BE CELEBRATING ABSENTEE TENANTS....DOES THAT MAKE US ABSENTEE LANDLORDS JUST IN CASE I GO TO A MALL TOMORROW. DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINUS!! HAVE YOURSELF A GREAT DAY. ENJOY!

Maybe Linus will stick her head in the door---Happy birthday Linus.

Happy--Have a good visit with the relatives. I only get to see my sisters about 2 or 3 times a year also. How about a visit to Jueno, Alaska!

Mel--Have fun watching your movies. I like classic tv.

Kinda quite today at work. I like days like this. I've had two phone calls and both from the fire department.

Evening all - from one of Mother Earth's most beautiful places. I'm at Lake Louise. It's cold. I'm about to put on 2 jackets just to go outside and see the evening in.
Today we left Calgary in the pouring rain and got to Banff some 2 hours later. Banff is a pretty town very much similar to Queenstown in NZ but no lake, or not a decent sized one anyway. We've seen waterfalls, mountains, cloud (lots of) snow, a bit of sun. Had a ride on the gondola up to the top of sulphur mountain and been in a cave where the sulphur springs from the earth (pooh! Just like Rotorua).
I did a bit of shopping in Banff and was tempted to get one of those hideously expensive -10 degree jackets but figured that I would only use them for maybe 1 day a year. Forget it. I have bought a sweat shirt instead.
At the top of the gondola ride - well worth while doing even if you are scared of heights - I climbed the stairs to the top observatory. There was SNOW sitting on the floor and tables. :snowmen: It was bitterly cold and whats more the mist came down and we couldn't even see the edges of the parapet. Then, magically it lifted and the view is spectacular. Did last for long though. From there it was on to Lake Louise. It's a spectacular drive. Got to the hotel and checked in to find they had upgraded my room from standard to Pretty Bloody Grand class. Can't remember what she called it now. I will find out. Anyway it seems to have everything that opens and shuts, blows hot and cold, runs hot, hot water (great shower for those who are totally chilled man) and has a view to die for. I can see up the lake to the Victoria Glacier on one side and the main entry road, racing river and snow capped mountains from the other window. I have coffee maker, arm chairs, big table, king size bed (I'll get lost in that one) blanket boxes, tv in an armoire, and something sinister looking that has a key thingy to open it. I'm not opening it on the grounds that what ever is in there will be expensive.
Had dinner tonight in the Glacier Saloon. Some lovely hot chowder and a salmon salad. Good food too.
The bus crowd are okay. The only thing I don't like about bus travel is that you can't stop just anywhere, it has to stick to a schedule and there is always someone coming back late after lunch or a brief stop.
Happy, I will let you know about the train. The brochure says you can take photos from the vestibule between carriages. That glass dome carriage is the Gold Leaf class. I'm a cheapie, I'm going Red Leaf. No dome for us.

Anyway, I am off to repack my bag. Sort out some warm gear for tomorrow and get some rest. There is a gym I might try out before breakfast. Don't have to be at the helicopter until 11.00

Ciao for now. Sorry I can't respond to everyone. I'm too busy gaping at the view.

Happy Birthday Linus.

HELLO CEEJAY! KEEPING THE FIREMEN ALL TO YOURSELF HUH?? HOPE YOU MADE A PASS AT LEAST ONE OF THEM!!

SHAD~ SOUNDS WONDERFUL AND HAVE A GREAT TIME. STAY WARM.

I AM OFF TO THE OFFICE FOR A BIT. SHORTHANDED TODAY. GUESS NO ONE LIKES MONDAYS. SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T LIKE FRIDAYS EITHER!!
FEEL FUNNY GOING DOWN THERE. FACE IS A BIT SCABBY. THE HEALING CONTINUES. BETTER GET OUT ALL THE "BARE ESENTUALS" MAKEUP!! SUPPOSED TO COVER ANYTHING....NOT!!!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY MONDAY

PS TO MADCAT~ WE ARE ALL SENDING LOTS OF

Busy, busy Worldly Chicks! How about July in Japan or have you done that?

I'm just back from an hour's workout at the gym - yes, this is really me! - and am now about to do three months of flossing in 30 minutes before I go to the dentist.

Am getting vicarious pleasure from Shad's trip descriptions. I have never done the through the mountains trip but have it on my list.

Gotta dash and deal with some needy South Beachers before I do the tooth thing.

Quick hello from cold, rainy Whistler. No internet access from yesterday until an hour ago, wrote replies to my emails and it all went Poof! again when I tried to send. Spent 20 min with a nice IT tech called Harm (who fortunately did none but who clearly didn't believe anything I said). Quickly rewrote the emails (not as witty second time around). Now I have no time to post properly before I get back to that pesky thing called work... I'll try again later.

Shad, sounds like you're getting the royal treatment! Glad the weather cleared for you, however briefly, and I hope the rest of the trip is just as classy.

to Mel, Happy, Ceejay, and Ruth.

to Madcat.

Afternoon all,
Quick post since I am on the hotel internet - $2.00 = 15 minutes. Still not as bad as at Lake Louise which was 50c per minute. Shut up whinging Shad.

I got up early and went to the gym. Then I came back to my room, showered and got dressed and went out for a looksee. The lake was still and smooth and just perfect. Only one Japanese photographer there and me. So we happily photoed and kept out of each others way. Then I went and had breakfast.

Bus driver picked us up today. My paperwork said I had to have the case ready to go by 9.30 and to be in the lobby by 10.30 and I wondered what they had in mind for us to do until 12.30 when the bus was due to pick us up.
9.30 came and went, the case was still there. 10.00 came and went the case was still there. 10.30 came and went the case and me were still there. So I marched it down to the lobby myself and made my displeasure felt at the desk. They know nozzink. Go see the bellcaptain. So I march my case across to the bell service and guess what, not only do they not know about me but they also know nothing about the rest of my tour either. Thank you for telling us - that could be a right stuff up.
We all hopped in the bus and went out to the Helipad at Abrahams Lake and off we went for the ride. It was nice but awfully crowded in there. There ain't nothing like close living in a tin can. Got some photos, but I think I really preferred the flight at Niagara or definitely the one on the Barrier Reef.

Then a very long bus ride back to Banff for tonight's stopover. I've drawn the short straw on this one. Nothing seems to be very organised, but at least they have a laundry - even if it has been taken over by a large greek man with hairy legs - yep stripped to his underwear and he wants both machines - I'll go back later. Might as well think about dinner for the time being. Then I have to sort out how to lighten my case somewhat. I think it is under the 30 kilos which is okay for the train, but I have to get it down to twenty or twenty-two for the flight to SF next - oh I dunno - whenever it is.

I guess I will be wearing everything heavy. How does one wear two lots of shoes at a time. Maybe a trip to the post office in Vancouver will be a grand idea.

July could be Jersey - no not New Jersey, heaven forbid we might have to get a cab. Jugoslavia - which no longer exists. Yes we did Japan in January. How about Jarlsberg - good cheese!!! Maybe some one might like to look up countries beginning with J or cities beginning with J or whatever and let us know what is up or down as the case may be. How come there are so many months beginning with J.

Gotta go or this won't get posted.

I kind of like Mel's July in Jumanji idea, sort of like February in Fantasyland, or November in Narnia. Of course then I'd have to rent the DVD and see the whole movie this time... As for what people think about you, Mel, you must know that like the song says, we love you just the way you are.

Some other suggestions: Juneau (as Ceejay proposed), Jakarta, Java, Jonquières (Québec), Jerusalem, Juniper Hollow (don't know where that is, but there's bound to be one somewhere...), Jacksonville.... the list is endless, which is good because there are 3 "J" months.

Happy, where did you ever find such a gem of a DH? Works all day in the heat and then bribes you with food! Does he have a single brother just like him?
Here's an idea: you could hire him out as a personal trainer to all the worldly chicks, he'd have us do his chores for him, and we'd be the ones losing ten lbs from all the activity!

Poor Shad freezing in the Rockies. At least here today there's a little sun, and we can actually see the tops (?) of the mountains. If and when it finally clears they may turn out to be even taller than they look right now.

Ruth, on getting to the gym. The only thing harder than starting is keeping it up... but you can do it. (If you're like me, you'd be more likely to go if they served chocolate rewards for a job well done... )

This week's assignment is turning out to be pretty easy - mainly just sitting doing standby. Rather boring, but just as well as I seem to be getting a cold and I need to save my strength for post-Whistler activities. Actually, Wed is a half day, and my colleague and I are considering trying one of those zipline adventures in the afternoon. Unless we chicken out, which is entirely likely. She has a bit of vertigo, and I also don't like heights and don't know if I can throw myself off a platform and trust a zipline. If we do go I'll be the one wearing a diaper.

Hi Carla

I think I kinda like Jumani in July.

What did the big almost nekid Greek guy say to Shad when she dashed out of the hotel laundry and dropped her coins all over the floor after catching sight of him?

.... Give up?

"Hey lady, you dropped Jumani" - get it?

ah farg. It is JummanJI Durn.

Carla, DH has 2 single brothers. However, you'd be better off picking one of the McKenzie brothers. Told him many times that it's a good thing I saw him first because not that I would be attracted to his brothers but if I did date them - this would be me I am quite lucky I picked the best of the lot. As for chores, as he will tell you, plenty enough to go around to share - all are welcome to pitch in.

Can we actually spend time in Java? Wouldn't that be irritating to Mel? Good list you've come up with there. Thanks!

Ohh that zipline looks both terrorizing and fun at the same time. Saw that a few times on The Amazing Race show. Go do it for me and all your sisters here.

Shad, the trip though cold sounds absolutely amazing - sans naked laundry man of course. Ewwww. We are sweltering in the heat (Memphis is the 7th most humid city in the United States) - hard to believe that you are looking at snow. I bet the blues are just fantabulous. Can't wait to see the pictures.

Ruth, I LOVED the 3 months of flossing in 30 minutes trick. So true. Think they can tell? Hope all went well for you.

Poor Miss Mel - our gal Friday or Monday as it is. Do they appreciate you filling in for those who can't face the work week properly? Are you getting the same muggy air we are? The pool is warm enough to enjoy and I see we are in for a very hot and muggy week ahead. You and mom can sit in the water and cool off and keep each other company while DH and I slave away. I only ask that you leave the string bikinis at home

Ceejay - that's so funny - well maybe not but when I saw your post about the firemen, first thought was that you are stealing them away from Mel.

I tried to post this morning and was able to read but when I went to go post my responses it said the site was down for maintenance - back in 2 or 3 minutes. It was more than that and I had to get going. Seems like the harder I try to get to work early, the later I am. And considering that I'm supposed to get in an hour earlier tomorrow and I still have to clean up a few things in the kitchen, I'd better get cracking here.

Oh good, alarm just went off on the washer - mom's blanket is ready to go into the dryer. I probably won't post tomorrow other than a quickie at lunch if I can. Got a few things to do tomorrow night to get the house in order. Sleep tight, enjoy your travels tomorrow where ever they may take you.

Happy Birthday Linus - hope you had a good one. Miss you too.

Robin Williams and I share a Bday on July 21 and he starred in Jumanji sounds karmic. LOL!!

Tried to post earlier but it didn't take.

You people make me laugh.